Natural Cleaning: the power of baking soda, vinegar & lemon

To avoid the potentially harmful chemicals in conventional cleaning products, a pregnant Kirsten Dirksen tries out baking soda, vinegar and lemon to clean everything in her bathroom: sink, mirrors, and even the toilet.
Original story here: http://faircompanies.com/videos/view/faircompanies-home-green-cleaningmo/

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• organics
• off gas
• chemical-free
• VOC
• volatile organic compounds
• no VOC
• organic
• diy
• howto
• chemicals
• green cleaning
• natural cleaning
• baking soda
• vinegar
• home air quality
• indoor air quality
• health

[hmmmocha]

This was great !!!! I leave baking soda in my fridge. Once I replace it can I use that baking soda to clean. Like does baking soda have a shelf life or something?

[faircompanies]

@hmmmocha I think you could probably use the "used" baking soda from your fridge. While it does have a shelf life once opened and in the fridge for use in baking products, I would guess there's still life in it to clean. At least for me, a bit part of the effectiveness of baking soda is its abrasiveness for scrubbing. As for it's odor and mold neutralizing powers, you may have to do your own experiments.

[Nielsenesque]

Nice video. I heat white distilled vinegar in a kettle, then I put it in a spray bottle and spray down my counters, sinks, tub, and toilet. I put some in the toilet, as well, and I usually let the vinegar sit for about 10-15 minutes before I wipe the counters and brush out the toilet. Works great for me.

[faircompanies]

@Nielsenesque I hadn't heard of heating vinegar. I'll have to try that. Is this a family trick or did you hear it from someone else? I'm always curious as to how people discover home remedies.

[faircompanies]

Sounds like I'm getting some criticism over my bathroom cleaning skills. I could blame it on the camera that made me nervous... or on never having to do it as a kid/adolescent. Though it just goes to show that this is fairly simple for even a novice bathroom cleaner like myself.

[islandmamma]

baking soda and vinegar are great together for cleaning silver, pots and clogged drains.

[jackcrese]

I put about 2 cups of vinegar in the toilet and left it overnight. I had severe hard water stains. In the morning, I brushed the bowl with a bowl brush and the the stains disappeared. Amazing.

[natrlchallenge]

This works even better diluted. I mixed a cup of baking soda and vinegar mixed with water to clean the mold of an old shower curtain. Not only did it work fat, I had no head ache from chemical smells. I am throwing out all the other cleaners, except bleach. I was able to clean everything at a fraction of the cost of the so called normal cleaners.

[gmackritis26]

This is awesome! It is 1:30am here, but I came across this video and needed to try :) It definitively took more elbow grease to get the ring out of the bathtub (I sprayed it with a lemon juice and vinegar mix and then scrubbed with baking soda on a rag) but it still was super easy ... and the tub looks AMAZING. :) Thanks so much!

[buysoapnuts]

Great video! The more natural products and less chemicals we use, the better.

[JNathanK2011]

@scattyballs That's rather harsh. I think its good to promote this knowledge, and calling someone a filthy bitch for saying its a waste of time isn't a good way of convincing them otherwise.

[JNathanK2011]

What I'm finding more and more is that truly healthy and environmentally safe options tend to be cheaper, not more expensive. The only problem is a box of baking soda isn't going to say "go green" on it, even though the packaging is more bio-degradable and its production takes less energy then some over-priced item with that type of green marketing slogan on it.

[scattyballs]

@jairosalguero i see your a filthy bitch who is not assed about your home ,, keep it clean or dont watch the video and talk shite

[miklamx]

After trying Mr Clean Sponge Eraser, abrasives, industrial chemicals that I sell at work to get the grease around the drip pans to go away with bad results, I took some baking soda, used my finger and rubbed the grease away-instantly.

[CimaraNyx]

when I started reading websites about using those natural products to clean my house, I couldn't wait to try it. Now, it's all I use! I donated ALL my chemical cleaners (and I had loads under both my sinks) to a local dog rescue place, and now you should see how bare the under sink cabinets are..and it's clean! This stuff really does work and you're right....no more chemical odor. I put some lavender sprigs in my baking soda.. and I water down my white vinegar to tone down the smell of it.

[jairosalguero]

what a waste of time!